John Borden Evans Oil Painting, Roosters

John Borden Evans was born in Scotland, the son of a Presbyterian minister, and currently lives on a 150 yr- old farm near Charlottesville. Evans' work draws inspiration from experience: the differing landscapes of Scotland, New Zealand and Virginia; his close knit family; his exposure to diverse religious imagery; and his early explorations as an abstract painter. His highly expressive and tactile images of landscape, and the animals that inhabit it, are whimsical and evocative of American folk culture. But beneath the simplicity lies a more complex and provocative undercurrent.

In response to the pastoral environment that surrounds his farm, images of cows, sheep, and chickens emerge from the textured acrylic layers of his densely worked paintings. Working intuitively, Evans begins his process by painting arbitrary colors and shapes and even words, then pushing and pulling, scraping and layering until the imagery emerges from beneath the layers. Rolling hills and pastures, fence lines and fruit trees, and all manner of animals take shape within Evans' unique painting process. Bright night skies with their glittering star patterns and glowing orbs create a moment of omnipotence with the farmland and the animals placed quietly beneath.

Some of the animals in his paintings seem vested with an uncanny human emotion and stature. A symbolic spiritual presence seems evident in some of his paintings. Evans' dramatic handling of light and shadow further contributes to the vibrancy and energy of the work. His extensive visual vocabulary, simply and directly expressed, creates imagery that resonates and transports the viewer beyond simple descriptive landscape painting.

Artist Statement
"These paintings grow out of the painting process. When I begin, I have no idea what the finished painting will look like. Lately my paintings have transformed themselves into imaginary views of the world around our house in North Garden, Virginia. These paintings are like memories that I have uncovered hidden in the many layers of acrylic paint. "

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland to American parents (6/21/56)
Educated at Davidson College (A.B., 1979)